Perfect carry revolver?
- Thread starter Alan
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Jack Teahan
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- Jun 29, 2025
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rfd
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- Jun 30, 2025
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Some folks have contacted me with a negative view about the ability of .22LR use for effective defense, particularly in a snubby 8 shot. They may be right, but maybe I am as well. To each their own.
Here's the bottom line to me for all this hubbub about .22LR for civilian SD/EDC/CCW …
"If you can put holes into the vitals you're aiming at, caliber doesn't matter ... and if you can't, caliber doesn't matter." - Rhett, Demonstrated Concepts.
The .22LR to employ for CCW needs to be a double action revolver, and an internal hammer snubby at that - NOT a semi-auto.
The .22LR snubby revolver - not a gun for range fun, but lots of "serious fun" for SD/EDC/CCW. No? Clearly not for everyone? Maybe so, maybe not, please read on ....
What matters most, IMHO – Reliability, Accuracy, Speed, Recoil Management, Noise Management.
Premium .22LR cartridges are a Must for reliability and ballistics.
A firearm's report matters when there's no hearing protection - worse yet indoors and/or in confined spaces, such as a vehicle.
Revolver reload speed can matter, too, and speed loaders get the job done fastest.
For the recoil sensitive, there's literally no recoil of concern with a .22LR snubby revolver loaded with premium .22LR cartridges.
Snubby revolvers are typically lighter, smaller and easier a carry than most semi-autos. Revolvers are always carried in "Condition 2", no safety switches needed, just aim and pull the trigger. If a round FTFs, keep pulling the trigger, no slide to rack or mag to drop for an FTF or FTE.
Snubby revolver sights are another issue that can be enhanced by adding a grip laser by Hogue or Crimson Trace, but not a requirement.
Yes, a D/A only .22LR revolver will have a hefty trigger pull of near or about 15lbs. Won't take too long of dry fire practice to master that trigger pull, and that's it's realistic "safety".
The cylinder blast from a .22LR revolver is of zero consequence if your weak hand happens to cover the cylinder forcing cone area during firing, and firing positions can be far more radical than with a centerfire.
Unlike the snubby ejectors for all centerfire cartridges and .22mags, a .22LR snubby ejector will 100% dislodge all cases from the cylinder with the tap of a thumb or palm = surer and faster reloads (of at least 8 rounds and not 5 or 6).
Premium .22LR cartridges are lots cheaper than cheap centerfire cartridges, and thus more incentive to practice more. Live fire practice at short distances may allow for at-home shooting, offering more opportunities for practice.
For those persons who don't regularly train with a centerfire handgun, a .22LR will be SO much more likely to consistently achieve multiple aimed POIs than any other type of handgun.
An eight shot .22LR snubby revolver loaded with proper premium cartridges - Federal Punch, CCI Velocitor, and others - is a CCW weapon not to be ignored - or dissed. These dayze, a .22LR revolver is quite the antidote for the typical SD scenario, but to each their own, and I own or have owned a gaggle of centerfire handguns - 1911 .45acp autos, wheel guns in .357mag/.38spl, and many autos in 9mm. They're all good aggressor deterrents, but the Ruger LCR22 allows me more accuracy and speed, among more than a few other good attributes. YMMV.
Here's the bottom line to me for all this hubbub about .22LR for civilian SD/EDC/CCW …
"If you can put holes into the vitals you're aiming at, caliber doesn't matter ... and if you can't, caliber doesn't matter." - Rhett, Demonstrated Concepts.
The .22LR to employ for CCW needs to be a double action revolver, and an internal hammer snubby at that - NOT a semi-auto.
The .22LR snubby revolver - not a gun for range fun, but lots of "serious fun" for SD/EDC/CCW. No? Clearly not for everyone? Maybe so, maybe not, please read on ....
What matters most, IMHO – Reliability, Accuracy, Speed, Recoil Management, Noise Management.
Premium .22LR cartridges are a Must for reliability and ballistics.
A firearm's report matters when there's no hearing protection - worse yet indoors and/or in confined spaces, such as a vehicle.
Revolver reload speed can matter, too, and speed loaders get the job done fastest.
For the recoil sensitive, there's literally no recoil of concern with a .22LR snubby revolver loaded with premium .22LR cartridges.
Snubby revolvers are typically lighter, smaller and easier a carry than most semi-autos. Revolvers are always carried in "Condition 2", no safety switches needed, just aim and pull the trigger. If a round FTFs, keep pulling the trigger, no slide to rack or mag to drop for an FTF or FTE.
Snubby revolver sights are another issue that can be enhanced by adding a grip laser by Hogue or Crimson Trace, but not a requirement.
Yes, a D/A only .22LR revolver will have a hefty trigger pull of near or about 15lbs. Won't take too long of dry fire practice to master that trigger pull, and that's it's realistic "safety".
The cylinder blast from a .22LR revolver is of zero consequence if your weak hand happens to cover the cylinder forcing cone area during firing, and firing positions can be far more radical than with a centerfire.
Unlike the snubby ejectors for all centerfire cartridges and .22mags, a .22LR snubby ejector will 100% dislodge all cases from the cylinder with the tap of a thumb or palm = surer and faster reloads (of at least 8 rounds and not 5 or 6).
Premium .22LR cartridges are lots cheaper than cheap centerfire cartridges, and thus more incentive to practice more. Live fire practice at short distances may allow for at-home shooting, offering more opportunities for practice.
For those persons who don't regularly train with a centerfire handgun, a .22LR will be SO much more likely to consistently achieve multiple aimed POIs than any other type of handgun.
An eight shot .22LR snubby revolver loaded with proper premium cartridges - Federal Punch, CCI Velocitor, and others - is a CCW weapon not to be ignored - or dissed. These dayze, a .22LR revolver is quite the antidote for the typical SD scenario, but to each their own, and I own or have owned a gaggle of centerfire handguns - 1911 .45acp autos, wheel guns in .357mag/.38spl, and many autos in 9mm. They're all good aggressor deterrents, but the Ruger LCR22 allows me more accuracy and speed, among more than a few other good attributes. YMMV.
